The Gas and Electricity (Internal Markets) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 No. 155

PART II N.I. CONSUMER PROTECTION

Amendments to objectives in the Energy Order N.I.

3.  In Article 12(3) of the Energy Order, after “the Authority shall have regard to” there shall be inserted “the need to protect”.

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 3 in operation at 15.4.2011, see reg. 1

4.  In Article 14(3) of the Energy Order, after “the Authority shall have regard to” there shall be inserted “the need to protect”.

Commencement Information

I2 Reg. 4 in operation at 15.4.2011, see reg. 1

Amendment of provisions dealing with determination of disputes N.I.

5.—(1) Article 26 of the Electricity Order, shall be amended as provided in this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (1)—

(a) for sub-paragraph (a) there shall be substituted the following sub-paragraph—

“(a) may be referred to the Authority by either party, and such a reference shall be accompanied by such information as is necessary or expedient to allow a determination to be made in relation to the dispute; and”; and

(b) for “and the practice and procedure” there shall be substituted “and, subject to paragraph (1A), the practice and procedure”.

(3) After paragraph (1) there shall be inserted the following paragraphs—

“(1A) The procedures established under paragraph (1) shall provide for the determination of the dispute to be notified to the party making the reference within the requisite period or such longer period as the Authority may agree with that person.

(1B) For the purposes of paragraph (1A), the requisite period in any case means—

(a) the period of 2 months from the date when the dispute was referred to the Authority; or

(b) where the information sent to the Authority under paragraph (1)(a) was in its opinion insufficient to enable it to make a determination, the period of 4 months from the date when the dispute was referred to the Authority.”

Commencement Information

I3 Reg. 5 in operation at 15.4.2011, see reg. 1

6.—(1) Article 42A of the Electricity Order, shall be amended as provided in this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (1) for sub-paragraph (a) there shall be substituted the following sub-paragraph—

“(a) may be referred to the Authority by either party or, with the agreement of either party, by the General Consumer Council, and such a reference shall be accompanied by such information as is necessary or expedient to allow a determination to be made in relation to the dispute; and”.

(3) In paragraph (3) for “The practice and procedure” there shall be substituted “Subject to paragraph (3A), the practice and procedure”.

(4) After paragraph (3) there shall be inserted the following paragraphs—

“(3A) The procedures established under paragraph (3) shall provide for the determination of the dispute to be notified to the person making the reference within the requisite period or such longer period as the Authority may agree with that person.

(3B) For the purposes of paragraph (3A), the requisite period in any case means—

(a) the period of 2 months from the date when the dispute was referred to the Authority; or

(b) where the information sent to the Authority under paragraph (1)(a) was in its opinion insufficient to enable it to make a determination, the period of 4 months from the date when the dispute was referred to the Authority.”.

Commencement Information

I4 Reg. 6 in operation at 15.4.2011, see reg. 1

Billing disputes: electricity N.I.

F1 7.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Reg. 7 revoked (12.4.2013) by The Gas and Electricity (Internal Markets) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (S.R. 2013/92), regs. 1, 31(2)

Billing disputes N.I.

F2 8.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2 Reg. 8 revoked (12.4.2013) by The Gas and Electricity (Internal Markets) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (S.R. 2013/92), regs. 1, 32(1)

Amendments to Energy Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 relating to disputes N.I.

9.—(1) Section 2 of the Energy Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 shall be amended as provided in this regulation.

(2) For subsection (1)(a), there shall be substituted the following subsection—

“(a) may be referred to the Authority by either party or, with the agreement of either party, by the General Consumer Council, and such a reference shall be accompanied by such information as is necessary or expedient to allow a determination to be made in relation to the dispute; and”.

(3) In subsection (3) for “The practice and procedure” there shall be substituted “Subject to subsection (3A), the practice and procedure”.

(4) After subsection (3) there shall be inserted the following subsections—

“(3A) The procedures established under subsection (3) shall provide for the determination of the dispute to be notified to the party making the reference within the requisite period or such longer period as the Authority may agree with that person.

(3B) For the purposes of subsection (3A) the requisite period in any case means—

(a) the period of 2 months from the date when the dispute was referred to the Authority; or

(b) where the information sent to the Authority under subsection (1)(a) was in its opinion insufficient to enable it to make a determination, the period of 4 months from the date the dispute was referred to the Authority.”.

Commencement Information

I5 Reg. 9 in operation at 15.4.2011, see reg. 1